Draft-bolt



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. OAUGHERTY, OF BLAIRSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-BOLT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,285, dated February 16, 1897. Application filed November 29, 1895. Serial No. 570,481. (No model.)

To all whom, it 771,011 concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CAUGHERTY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Blairsville, in the county of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft-Bolts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in draw-heads for freight and passenger cars and the like, and relates more particularly to the manner of securing the draw-head in position.

The invention has for its object the provision of new and novel means for providing efficient means whereby the draw-head may be secured; furthermore, that will effectually retain the same, thereby obviating the clanger caused by the draw-head becoming detached, as is now often the case.

The invention has for its further object the construction of a device of the above-described class whereby the draw-head may be quickly and easily removed when desired and that will dispense with the keys used in the ordinary method of fastening, which frequently become lost, allowing the draw-head to become detached, thereby causing considerable trouble and perhaps loss to the com pany.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of a device of the above-referred-to class that will be extremely simple in its construction, strong, durable, efiectual in its operation, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

WVith the above and other objects in view the invention finally consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout both views, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the draw-head provided with my improved attachment applied in posit-ion on a car. Fig.

2 is a side view of my improved securing attachment, partly in section.

In the drawings, a represents the drawhead proper, b the aperture provided in same for the reception of the link of the engaging coupler, and c the coupling-pin. My securing device consists of a bolt 61, provided with a head 6, and near the other end the said bolt is provided with a slot f, extending longitudinally in the bolt, and in the slot are pivotally secured lugs g g, carrying projections or arms h h, adapted to engage a shank z 2' or portion which is left intact with the bolt when forming the slot f. Between the lugs g g is secured a coil-springj, and the lugs are further provided with projections k on their pivoted ends, which fit into recesses formed in the bolt to receive the said projections and thereby relieve any strain on the pivotal pins of the lugs g g, as the strain would be received on the projections 1c 7r. and the ends h h, as will be seen from the drawings. The bolt (l carries a following-plate Z, which engages the draw-head, and a draft-plate an engages the lugs gig. Between the followingplate and the draft-plate is provided a coilspring which encircles the bolt d.

The device is secured in the car by means of a plate which engages the draft and following-plates and in which they operate, said plate being secured to the car by bolts, as in the ordinary manner and as is fully shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The operation of my improved securing device will be readily apparent. The bolt d is dropped into the aperture bin the draw-head,

where it passes through the aperture provided therefor in the inner end of the draw-head, and the head of the bolt 01 engages the said inner end of the draw-head and prevents the bolt from passing any farther through the aperture. The bolt then passes through the following-plate, the coil-spring, and the draftplate, and when the lugs g 9 have passed the point of contact while passing through the draft-plate the coil-spring j, arranged between the said lugs, will force the same outward, in which position they will remain, thereby effectually locking the bolt in position.

It will be noticed that the draft-plate rests on the bolt in such a position that it is directly over the shanks ii of the bolt d, thereby affording additional protection at this point for the arms h h. The ends of the lugs g 9 being recessed in the bolt, as shown in Fig. 2, it will be noticed that the pivot-pins will have no strain upon them, but will simply serve the purpose of retaining the lugs g g in position.

The coil-spring arranged on the bolt will take up the strain and jar when a sudden jerk or pull is made on the cars.

It will be noticed when it is desired to remove the bolt the same can be readily done by compressing the lugs, thereby allowing the withdrawal of the same.

It will be noticed that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a draw-head fastener, a bolt having at one end a slot,said slot ending in recesses penetrating the solid portion of the bolt,

shanks extending across the slot at the top GEORGE H. CAUGHERTY.

Witnesses ALFRED M. WlLsoN, H. E. SEIBERT. 

